Folding mechanism



Nov. 5, 1929. A. NOVICK FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Nmi. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Fatented Nov. 1929 UNITED STATES v PATENT org-ice ABRAHAM -NOVICK, OF FLUSHING,-NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO I. SMITHE MACHINE 00., 'INGL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FOLDING .mnomrsm Application filed November 25, 1927. Serial No. 235,536.

This invention relates generally to rotary envelope making mechanism, and specifically to flap-folding devices comprising a part of such mechanism.

An object of the invention is the provision of means for rapidly and accurately folding the freshly gummed and preliminarilyscored' bottom flap of envelope sheets.

The following is a description of an envelope bottom-flap folding device embodying the invention in its present pneferred form but it will be understood that various modi: fications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and without exceeding the scope of the claims.

.The invention will best beunderstood by reference tothe accompanying drawings, wherein the present preferred embodiment is illustrated, and in which. Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the device and some of its associated parts in position to receive an envelope sheet; Fig. 2 is a sectional view similar to Fig. v1, but with some of the parts omitted, and with the remaining parts in the positions which they occupy when the envelope sheet has been partially fed thereto;

Fig. 3 is a sectional vlew similar to Fig. 1, but with some of the parts omitted, and with the remaining parts in the positions which they occup at a later stage in the folding operationfil ig. e is a top plan view of the device with an envelope sheet in position to be fed thereto; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-.5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction indicated the arrows.

Like ref rence characters indicate like partsthroughont the drawings. r

Referring to the drawings, 1 denotes a table along which are fed, by means not shown, envelope sheetsor blanks such as 2, which have been preliminarily scored along the line4 of the proposed fold, andthe side flaps I '5, 5 5 and feed roller .5". Feed rollers 5,

5 and 5" are mounted upon shaft 5' (Fig. 4), above an opening formed in the table 1,

while feed roller 5- is mounted below said opening. Also formed in this table .is a depression, 6, into-which the loweredge of acurved deflecting blade 7 is adapted'to enter to a'point where said edge is below the top of the table. The blade 7 is attached, to crossbar 8, having ears 9 mounted upon and adapted to be oscillated about studs 10, supported in brackets such as 11. One of the ears is connected through suitable mechanism such.

as the link 12 actuated by a 051111 or other well-known means (not shown). (Jo-operative with deflecting blade 7 to bend the envelope sheet along the line of the score 4 are twdtucker fin ers, 13 and 13", mounted upon a common slia t, 14, adapted to be'oscilla ted,

through suitable mechanism such as link 16 y and lever 15, by the cam hereinbefore referred to as actuating the deflecting blade 7 and its associated parts.

As the leading edge of the bottom flap passes through feed rollers 5, 5 and 5 and feed roller 57, the relatively sharp edge of the table which defines the rear side of the openlng in which saidrollers operate, serves as a stripper to insure that the flap shall be separated from the bottom roller 5". The timing of the mechanism is such that while the leadlng edge of the flap is being stripped from the roller 5", and for a considerable interval thereafter, the lower edge ofthe de fleeting blade 7 is in the-depression 6, whereby such leading edge of the flap is permitted to overlap the said lower edge of the blade.

Under the urge of the feed rollers, the leading edge of the envelope sheet contacts with the concave surface of the now stationary deflecting blade, and the flap is bent upwardly to conform generally to such concave sur: face. When the flap has advanced to a point where about one-half its width is in contact with the concave surface of the deflecting blade, the'blade swings backward, at, a rate, however, somewhat less than the rate at which the flap is advanced over its surface. In the progress of this movement of the envelope sheet and the deflecting blade, the sheet'will assume a position and form similar to that indicated in Fig. 2, wherein the fla is at a envelope sheet.

roughly right angle to the main b0 y of the It will be understood that the score which has been formed in the envelope sheet, preliminary to the feeding of the latter into the folding device, is not sharp, but is only sufficient to produce a slight break in the curve which is imparted to the sheet by reason, of.

contacting of the same with the deflecting blade. It is now necessary to definitely form the fold on the lineof the score. This is effected by the downward and rearward movement of the tucker fingers 13 and 13,

from the position shown in Ei'g. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3. The mechanism 1s so timed that these tucker fingers engage the sheet at the score at a time when the bottom flap has reached its point of maximum upward move- ",ment. The downward and backward movement of the fingers sweeps the flap over the lower edge of the deflecting blade, thereby forming the fold on the score line and inserting the envelope into the bite-of rollers l ,17 and 17*, by which latter rollers the fold is completed and the ummed portions 18 and 18 of the bottom ap are caused to adhere to the side flaps 3 and 3. Roller 17 is provided withfa portion 19 formed of rubber or in movementwith the movement of this feedother resilient substance, to insure a positive feed of the envelope sheet without undue pressure thereupon;

The feeding of the envelope sheets is with reference to the score 4; and the tuckerfingers 13 and 13" being timed to synchronize ing mechanism, proper contact of the tucker fing'ers along the line of the score is assured,

irrespective of any slight differences which said score line and; for removing it out 01 contact with said deflector member and means for completing-said fold.

2. In envelope-making machinery, a flapfolding devicecomprislng a support for envelope blanks, rollers for eding said blanks, means for stripping a blank from one of said rollers, a depending deflecting blade for said blank, means-for shielding the edge of said blade including a member permitting said blade to go below the advancing edge of the blank, and means co-operat'ive with said de-' fleeting blade to fold the blank preliminarily on the line of a score formed therein. 1

' 3. In envelope making machinery, a device for folding the bottom flap 'of a blank, com-' prising means for feeding the envelope in which a preliminary score has been formed, a table in advance of said feeding means in position to receive the blank from said feed ing means, said table having a depression therein, means cooperating with said feeding means for upwardly deflecting said'bottom may occur in the width of the bottom flaps,

such as may be due to curling or like causes.

The device comprises sim le, eflicient and inex ensive' means for rapi y and accurate ly c ecting a fold of the bottom flap of an purposes. as will be readily' understood by those based on the art. 7

While I have described what -I believe to be the best embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be confined to the embodiment shown, but what-I desire to cover by Letters Batent is set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

.1. In envelope-making machinery, a bottom flap-folding device comprising means for feeding an envelope blank in which a preliminary score has been formed, a pivoted depending deflectin member arranged to move into and out o the-path of movement of the blank for deflecting upward saidflap ofsaid blank, said deflecting means being constructed and arranged to remain 7 stationary upon In tial contact of the flap therewith and to thereafter move away from said feeding means at a rate lowerthan the rate of advance of the envelope blank, a' pivoted tucker finger coeoperative with said deflectmg means. for partially folding the blank at flap', said means being constructed and aradvance of the envelope sheet, but may be used for other 

